Patients come Runners Up in Inter Spinal Unit Games

Patients from across Southern England were runners up in the Inter Spinal Unit Games for Salisbury District Hospital at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury.

The six strong team was pitted against 12 other teams from spinal units across Great Britain and Ireland. Team members have damage to the spinal cord and are either paralysed from the neck (tetraplegic) or the waist (paraplegic) down, depending on how high up the damage has occurred.

The competitors and their achievements were:

Merryn Thomas

(Tetraplegic) from Redruth, Cornwall won tetraplegic ladies table tennis and swimming and competed in Archery and shooting.

Michaela McCann, Occupational Therapist and Salisbury District Hospital team manager, said: "The Inter Spinal Unit Games gives patients an opportunity to try new sports, socialise with others of similar abilities and take part in competitive sports."

"The team did incredibly well and some patients have been approached to take their sports further. They all participated with so much enthusiasm and cheered their team and other teams on. It was great to see everyone support each other and they all participated in the have-a-go sessions. This is where they can try out different sports such as hand cycling, badminton, tennis and wheelchair rugby."

Ms McCann added: "I would like to thank the team for their great enthusiasm and other members of staff for their support and organisation. They were Jo Howard, Zoe Grinnell, Jenny Harker and Martin Whitfield. We would also like to thank Gerald Simmonds for providing our team pink T-shirts, which were proudly worn."

Notes to editors:

The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre at Salisbury District Hospital provides specialist care for patients across much of southern England from Cornwall in the west to Sussex in the east.